16 August, 2013
22 men and women dispatched to Alaska, Montana and West Virginia
BOSTON – Friday, August 16, 2013 - Massachusetts this week mobilized Massachusetts resources to support fire control operations in other states. Through the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry, 22 men and women have been dispatched to Alaska, Montana and West Virginia.
“We are grateful to these firefighters who are bringing their expertise and commitment to assist our partners in other states,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Sullivan. “It is our hope that these added resources help to protect the public and the environment in Alaska, Montana and West Virginia and we look forward to our crew’s safe return.”
“We are extremely proud of the DCR and municipal firefighters who have been called upon to help our friends and partners across the country,” said DCR Commissioner Murray. “These are extremely well-trained and dedicated firefighters whose skills are much needed, and whose help, we know, is enormously appreciated.”
Fire activity has increased over the last 10 days throughout the Eastern Great Basin, Northwestern States and the Northern Rockies. Hot and dry weather patterns, very low fuel moistures, and numerous scattered dry thunderstorms producing hundreds of lightning strikes have resulted in extreme fire danger indices throughout these regions.
There are currently 34 uncontained large fires burning throughout the west, and fire resources are stretched thin. Comparatively, fire indices here in the East have remained relatively low due to the frequency of wetting rain throughout the summer season thus far. These conditions allow eastern states to safely provide qualified fire resources to the western fire operations.
Current Assignments:
Location: Lolo National Forest, west of Missoula, Montana
Crew Boss: Shawn Bush, DCR District 7 Fire Warden South Worcester County
Asst Crew Boss: Aaron Whiddon, DCR District 3 Fire Warden Bristol County
DCR firefighters:
Shawn Bush, Oakham
Aaron Whiddon, Plymouth
Jonathan Hallinan, Peabody
Jesse Hanecak, Whately
Benjamin Jennell, West Newbury
Brian Mayer, Groton
Millard Ring, Rockport
Sam Schilling, Northampton
Eric Rogers, Holyoke
Municipal firefighters:
John Branscombe, North Brookfield
Bruce, Forgea, Windsor
George Nolette IV, North Brookfield
Christel Kalweit, Marston Mills
Toss Beaulieu, Plymouth
Walker Korby, Montague Center
Jonathan Lacasse, Lanesborough
Max Lacasse, Lanesborough
Benjamin Miller, Amherst
Daniel Thayer, New Salem
Christopher Trainor, North Brookfield
The crew will be supporting local Forest Service Fire management staff in initial attacks on all small fires detected within two ranger districts on the Lolo National Forest. The strategy is to attack these fires at an early stage and preventing them from gaining ground.
Location: Delta, Alaska
Assigned Firefighter: Trevor Augustino, DCR District 11 Fire Warden, Hamden County
Augustino will be in a public information officer role under a State of Alaska Incident Management Team providing important fire related information to the public. The fire has doubled in size over the last week due to a hot, windy and dry weather pattern. A number of structures have been lost on this fire and numerous structures remain threatened.
Location: Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Assigned Firefighter: Patty Correia, DCR District 8 Fire Warden, North Worcester County
Correia will support dispatching resources for Monongahela & Allegheny NF, Northeast State & Private Forestry USFS, Mid-Atlantic States, The Nature Conservancy, National Weather Service & Harpers Ferry Job Corps. The shifts are 12 hrs.
All mobilizations are made possible through a cooperative memorandum of understanding and an annual agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. All travel, food, and personnel costs are covered or reimbursed by the federal government through this agreement.
